Trending Now

You are here

Teacher contract in place at Triton

BOURBON — Positive interaction with the Triton Teachers Association was reported last Monday evening by Superintendent Donna Burroughs as the school board ratified a new personnel contract.
The agreement results in an increase for all employees, and was approved unanimously with one abstention due to conflict of interest.
The new contract:
• Removes items which cannot be contained in a contract due to changes in the law;
• Sets a new salary schedule with an increase for everyone;
• Adjusts the substitute teacher daily rate from $60 to $65;
• Adds vision insurance;
• Develops a new teacher compensation model based on years of experience, education and degrees, and the RISE teacher evaluation rubric.
In other personnel matters:
Resignations were accepted from Vicki Markley — part-time custodian, Christine McIntire — bus driver, Craig Groves — computer technician, and Diane Walter — part-time speech therapist. The retirement of Ann Weirick as elementary instructional assistant was accepted.
The following hires were approved: Jordan Smith — first-grade teacher; Marcile Lindsey — high school special education instructional assistant; Kris Berger — bus mechanic; Mindy Klotz — approved as transportation director; Mitchell Mortensen; Carey Whiteman — bus driver; Maureen Lemler — bus driver; Lori Shively — approved as high school study hall instructional assistant; Johna Snyder — kindergarten instructional assistant; Marcia Keyser — half-time reading interventionist; Tabitha McCoy — high school cafeteria cashier; and Paula Meredith — high school cafeteria lunchroom supervisor.
Rounding out the personnel appointments were these extra-curricular activities personnel: cross country: Wes Rettinger — varsity and Travis Cooper — JH; boys tennis: Al Peckham; girls golf: Jack Carpenter; volleyball: Samantha Keel — varsity, Amy Yates — JV, Shelley Feldman — 8th, and Christina Stout — 7th; football: Ron Brown — varsity assistant, Jerad Crooks — varsity assistant, Brad Hargrave — JH coach, Jim Snyder — JH assistant, and Chris Gray — JH assistant; cheerleading: Emily Grubbs — varsity 50%, Whitney Ambrose — varsity 50%, and Dana Greenawalt — elementary; and volunteers Staci George — JH cheerleading; Olivia Eyrich – JH cheerleading; and Dave Carpenter — golf.
The possibility of a “balanced calendar” for next year was addressed as Burroughs gave her report. This concept, while not “year-round school,” would provide a two-week vacation after each nine-week grading period, while still allowing for time off in the summer. Other nearby corporations are considering the same schedule so that vacation periods, sports schedules, etc. would be coordinated.
She reported that the summer school served 836 breakfasts and 1,428 lunches.
On Thursday, the old gym was inspected by a state team to determine if the building can become an Indiana historical landmark. It is of the same ilk as the high school gym in the movie “Hoosiers.” If approved, it would be eligible for grant money which could be used for its upkeep.
At the next board meeting, Burroughs said, Linda Yoder, executive director of the Marshall County Community Foundation, will be present to discuss the starting of a Triton Educational Foundation Fund, the interest from which could then be used for corporation needs. Burroughs and high school principal Michael Chobanov have submitted a grant for $3,500 in safety improvements, all of which have already been made. If awarded, the grant would reimburse the corporation for money spent. In conclusion, Burroughs complimented administrators of both buildings for the job they did training teachers and custodial staff.
Elementary principal Jeremy Riffle reported that his school was holding an open house as the board meeting was taking place, and that attendance was very good. He is pleased with the way the new teachers were adding a sense of excitement to the start of school.
There was a good turnout for the seventh-grade orientation, said junior/senior high principal Chobanov. He said that during registration, the school ran out of lockers — a good thing — and that more had been ordered. The high school has received several calls to transfer students from outside the corporation limits due to the new dual credit and Project Lead the Way course offerings. A new cell phone policy was drafted for this year which recognizes the importance of cell phones to the students. Under the new policy, cell phones may be used in the halls and at lunch without penalty.
In a new development, Triton and Culver Community School Corporation have partnered to hire Jill Houin, an eLearning coach, who will work half-time at each high school, dealing with software, e-research, etc. The coach will not be burdened with computer hardware malfunctions, which is the job of each corporation’s computer techs.
Finally, the board approved payment of a total of $903,826.11 in payroll and voucher claims.